Exporterfolge

Exporterfolge describes the measurable achievements of firms or economies in international trade, including sustained growth in exports, diversification of markets and products, and higher export shares in overall revenue. The term is used in economics and business studies to assess how well companies or economies perform outside their domestic markets and to compare performance over time or against peers.

Common metrics include export growth rate, export intensity (exports relative to turnover), and export diversification (the spread of exports across destinations and products). Additional indicators are the share of exports in total sales, profitability of export activities, and the survival rate of new export entries. Data are typically drawn from national statistics offices, customs data, and international sources such as UN Comtrade.

Key drivers of exporterfolge are firm capabilities and external conditions. Internal factors include production efficiency, product quality and compliance with standards, innovation, marketing, market knowledge, and access to finance. External factors involve exchange rates, trade agreements, tariffs, logistics infrastructure, and macroeconomic stability, as well as global demand conditions and supply chain reliability. Strategic actions to foster exporterfolge include market research, careful channel selection, localization and after-sales service, use of digital export platforms, and risk management in payments and logistics. Support from policy makers—export promotion programs, credit guarantees, information services, and trade missions—can improve exporter outcomes, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Challenges in measuring exporterfolge include data gaps, attribution of success to specific actions, and the risk of overemphasizing short-term gains at the expense of long-term diversification.